For　ultrasonic　non-destructive　inspection　of　spherical　curved　plates,　which　is　used　in　the　fields　of　pressure　vessels,　spherical　domes　of　power　plants,　and　so　on,　characteristics　of　guided　waves　in　spherical　curved　plates　must　be　understood.　Based　on　linear　three-dimensional　elasticity,　an　orthogonal　polynomial　series　expansion　approach　is　used　for　determining　the　guided　wave　dispersion　curves　and　the　displacements　distributions　in　homogeneous　anisotropic　spherical　curved　plates.　When　the　material　is　orthotropic　or　has　fewer　independent　constants　in　the　wave　propagation　direction,　the　coupled　propagating　waves　can　be　decomposed　of　Lamb-like　waves　and　SH　wave.　The　independent　SH　wave　is　solved　analytically　by　Bessel　function.　In　order　to　test　the　accuracy　and　range　of　applicability　of　this　polynomial　approach,　the　two　results　of　the　SH　wave　is　compared,　the　exact　results　by　Bessel　function　and　the　results　by　the　polynomial　method.　Guided　wave　dispersion　curves　for　unidirectional　composite　spherical　curved　plates　with　different　fiber　intensity　are　calculated　to　show　the　effect　of　the　fiber　intensity　on　dispersion　curves.　Finally,　the　guided　wave　dispersion　curves　for　orthotropic　spherical　curved　plates　at　different　radius　of　curvature　are　calculated　and　the　inherited　influences　of　the　radius　of　curvature　on　the　wave　characteristics　are　discussed.　(c)　2006　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.